Book Review: Faith, Hope and, Gravity by Merrill Osmond and Shirely Bahlmann

 

 

 

 



 In Merrill Osmond and Shirely Bahlmann's inspirational fiction  Faith, Hope and Gravity a young boy, Liam, is prone to being able to see things before they happen. It is a special gift he is given. Unfortunately many around him don't understand his special ablities and tease him because of it. And one such event leads to Liam being severely injured which caused him to stay away from others and hold onto his misunderstandings and inablitity to find forgiveness for those who hurt him. But as he grows he is sent off to his uncle's farm in England and his adventures begin as he learns about who he is, and how to best use his special gift to help others, and eventual find a way to find forgiveness for those who hurt him. Along the way he finds great freinds who help him see the truth in others around him and help him to grow.

 

Many fascinating things happen as Liam travels the world and finds others who are like him. And he finds that even though he is afraid to trust and move out of his comfort zone,  he develops the ability to be strong and find true freinds around him who would help him be the best he can be. And through harrowing events in his life and unexpected twists and turns and new developments in his abilities to see beyond the every day norm, he learns who he can truly trust and how to use his abilities to help others around him.

 

Here are some questions I wanted to ask Merrill about his experiences writing Faith Hope and Gravity. I hope you enjoy this opportunity to learn more about the creation of this book.

 

Can you share a little about writing Faith, Hope & Gravity and your road to publication?

Well…”Faith, Hope and Gravity” has been in my head for a long time, more years than I care to say. It’s so much a part of me that many people have a hard time understanding sometimes about my deep thoughts and the way I look at the world. I thought that maybe this book would use the stories in a way that people would get to know who I am and ask, “Is this really fiction, or is this Merrill Osmond?” As you read the book, you will see pieces of my thought process and how I viewed the world.

 

Tell us something you'd like readers to know.

I want the readers to know that this book I’ve dreamed of, I’ve lived, and I think it will be a story that will help you get to know me as a person more than just the singer/songwriter. It has a wonderful story line of Liam who goes though a lot of trials in life but somehow in the end comes out of life with a lot of lessons and learning more about himself and the world and that is what I want people to take away with this book. Bad things sometimes happen to good people, but there is that balance in the world that you may not really see, but I believe that what you put back in the world will eventually come back to you. If you go after someone to destroy them for position or power, that victory will be short-lived. If you give out goodness in your life, you will at some point be rewarded in a time of need. I just believe in never judging anyone and placing a label on them or getting in the way of accomplishing their dreams. I believe we came to earth to learn about each other, to learn to lift each other up to get though the trials of life and at the end know that it was all worth it. Not easy, but worth it.

 

 What inspired you to write it?

It was a dream I’ve always had of writing a novel. I had written two previous books. “Let the Reason be Love” which was titled after a hit we had in the 70’s and was a sort of autobiography of my life. Then I wrote“The Plan Revisited” which was my experiences with my brothers in writing our statement album called, “The Plan” which was a story within itself.

I have had the story of “Faith, Hope & Gravity” in my head for many years and it just seemed like the right time to finally go forward and get it all done. It took over a year to get published because I kept changing things. I probably drove my co-writer Shirley crazy as my mind never stops, so I kept throwing ideas at her to add, but I finally said, “This is it. This is what I want to say. “ 

 

What can we expect from you in the future?

You can expect me to keep on writing and singing the music I love. I want to do more songwriting, that’s one of my favorite things to do. In fact, I wrote a song that is dedicated to the people that read this book. I would like to do more writing, maybe a children’s book series and more books that challenge people to understand who I truly am.

 

Book Blurb:

Faith, Hope and Gravity is the spiritual, magical adventure of teenage Liam Kane as he discovers some of the same lessons Merrill Osmond learned as the world-traveling lead singer of the Osmond Brothers. Merrill, like Liam, was often misunderstood for his visionary quests to understand those who looked for answers to life's questions. Liam's talents gain him international notoriety as "The Prophecy Boy" who swims with dolphins, dreams of a mysterious red door, and champions those who are misunderstood. Surviving kidnapping, near-drowning, and imprisonment ultimately leads to the discovery that despite inherent differences, when people respect one another's unique abilities, the thread of commonality that runs through mankind grows ever stronger. Turn the pages and join the unforgettable journey

 

 

here is a list of book reviews for Faith Hope and Gravity that you can check out.

August 24^th-http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/

Aug 27- http://shirleybahlmann.blogspot.com/
Aug 28-http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com/

Aug 30- http://1000wrongs.blogspot.com/

Aug 31
http://tristipinkston.blogspot.com/

Sept 4- http://moniquebucheger.blogspot.com/
Sept 5-http://joansowards.blogspot.com/

Sept 7-http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/
http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/wordpress/

Sept 10 - http://tamarahartheiner.blogspot.com/

Sept 12- http://bythebecks.blogspot.com/
Sept 13- http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/
Sept 14- http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/
Sept 17- http://www.debbiesinkspectations.blogspot.com/
Sept 18- http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/

Sept 20- http://www.kathiswritingnook.com/
Sept 24-http://www.queenoftheclan.com/

Sept 27- Susan http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/
Sept 28-http://thebookbug-hogan.blogspot.com/

October 1-Jewel Adams www.jewelsbestgems.blogspot.com
Oct 3- Rachelle’s Writing Spot http://rachellewrites.blogspot.com/

Endorsements:

“Fiction rarely resonates with more truth that ‘Faith Hope and Gravity.’ Merrill Osmond's music has made him part of our lives. His delightful debut novel is a journey into his heart. It is a journey you don't want to miss."

Kieth Merrill, Academy Award Winning Filmmaker

“Merrill Osmond's autobiographical fiction ‘Faith, Hope & Gravity’ gives insights to the man that people have never seen before. If you want to know more about Merrill than you've ever discovered in any interview or article, then you need this book.”

Gino Tutera MD. F.A.C.O.G. Medical Director SottoPelle®

"Not everyone who has a great gift leads a charmed life. In his novel ‘Faith, Hope & Gravity,’ Merrill Osmond gives readers an insightful look at a young boy, Liam Kane, whose life and challenges, in part, mirror his own. The lesson imparted in the book is the importance of rising above adversity, taking miracles as they come and keeping faith with what you know to be true. "

Senator Orrin Hatch

“Having Merrill Osmond as one of my closest friends has always meant so much to me. I have been with him through the ups and the downs, but no matter what the circumstances, Merrill has proved to be one of God's chosen people, as he lives his life spreading goodness to all those around him.

Merrill’s new book, ‘Faith, Hope and Gravity,’ is a fascinating story, well conceived and beautifully written. It tells the story of a fictional character, a young boy by the name of Liam Kane. It shows how having a gift does not always mean everything will be laid out for you. The book leaves you wonderiwhether the main character is Liam Kane, or is it indeed Merrill Osmond.

A wonderful read, and hailed by critics as a great piece of fiction.

To my true friend Merrill Osmond. You are one of life's heroes, and spread the light wherever you go. Long may you continue to do so.”

David King, Executive Producer, Spirit Productions Worldwide

 

Merrill Osmond is a world-class entertainer, producer, author, motivational speaker and renowned lead singer of the Osmonds. Merrill and his siblings have produced 47 platinum & gold records and Merrill has written the lyrics for five #1 hit records. Merrill is a co-founder of the Osmond Foundation, which originally produced “The Children’s Miracle Network” Telethon. He has produced presidential inaugural events for both Reagan & Bush. Merrill is excited to release his first novel, Faith, Hope & Gravity.

Shirley Bahlmann has written a wide variety of genres, including historical fiction, novels, biographies, how-to, and how-not-to books. One of her favorites is a children’s book titled “When the Chicken Crossed the Road” which comes with instructions and a chicken-colored washcloth so you can roll your own chicken! Shirley finds the most annoying thing about being a prolific writer is sleep, because she’d rather be writing.

 More great ways to learn more about the authors of Faith, Hope and Gravity by Merrill Osmond and Shirely Bahlmann

Website: http://shirleybahlmann.com/

Blog:

http://shirleybahlmann.blogspot.com/

www.merrillosmond.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/merrilldavisosmond

Twitter:

                                       http://twitter.com/#!/merrillosmond

you can get your copy of Faith, Hope and Gravity here and here.

Book Review: Carnival Girl By Sonja Herbert

 

Carnival Girl Searching for God in the Aftermath of War by Sonja Herbert is a engaging story about a young girl growing up through the end of World War 2 and what it was like being a member of a family that traveled throughout the country setting up carnivals for different cities to make ends meet. All while her half Jewish mother hid from the Nazi's in both the circus and later in the carnival she and her husband ran with their children.

Carnival Girl is a story about Sonja and what it was like for her growing up in these circumstances with a family that didn't see the need for religion in their lives and felt it was a waste of time and unimportant.

But Sonja never saw it that way. From a young age she yearned to know she wasn't so alone in spite of her family. That even when she made mistakes she would still be loved and watched over. With the sometimes volatile atmosphere at home it was hard as a young child for Sonja to wonder what she had done to bring on her mother's wrath.

But along the way she found out about prayer and God and how Jesus loved her and she was able to find strength and hope through the tough times of traveling in a caravan with her family's carnival. She never felt like she had a place to call home until one winter when she had the opportunity to take English lessons which then lead her to find the missionaries which changed her life.

Carnival Girl is a story of hope and faith. A story of how to overcome and persevere and how to find the hidden blessings and the love of God mixed in with the hard and sometimes unpredictable times. That strength could be gained and when life seems to be falling apart to have that quiet knowledge that God was beside Sonja lending her the fortitude she needed to get through.

I liked the way each chapter takes the reader deeper into the lives of the carnival and what that was like. The descriptions of life where vivid and it is easy to feel as if you could step into the pages of Circus  Girl and have it come to life before you.  I thought it was nice to start each chapter off with a picture of now with Sonja grown and with a family of her own sharing antedotes of her Mutti's visit to America. It gave a glimpse into Mutti's life and beliefs now, and showed that she was still very much the same and to see Sonja's patience and love in dealing with her mother.

Many times I felt that Mutti took out her frustration with life on her family and because she had to hid who she was from the world they got the brunt of it. At times I felt she was just harsh with her children, and marveled that Sonja could emerge from her experiences with the strength to stick to her decisions about joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in spite of the obstacles her family place in her way. I loved her determination to hold to her testimony and never let go.

Carnival Girl is a fast read which pulls you into the lives of Sonja's family and the hardships of the life she grew up in, that shows how life triumphs when faith in God abound. It made me  wish I could glimpse further into Sonja's life as a Latter-day Saint and what happened in her later teen and early adult years in a rebounding Germany.

A little about Sonja:

Sonja Herbert and her five siblings were raised in a

caravan, traveling the carnival circuit from town to town in post-
World War II Germany.
Sonja converted to the LDS Church, later married, and immigrated
to the United States, where she received a bachelor of arts degree at Southern
Utah University in Cedar City, Utah, and a master of arts degree from
Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She also raised six children,
taught school and ESL, and is now a freelance writer.
Besides her childhood memoir, Sonja has also written many autobiographical
stories, which have been published in the Chicken Soup for the
Soul series and other anthologies. A biographical novel about her half-
Jewish mother’s experiences in Nazi Germany is almost finished.
Sonja lives in Provo with her husband and cat. You can find more
about her unusual life at germanwriter.com here.
You can get you copy of Carnival Girl by clicking here

getting over miscarrying

In December my life changed, well more than the fact that I had a birthday. I found out I was pregnant, and then just as fast found out I wasn't anymore. What remained behind was a larger aftermath than I expected.

It's been two months now, and I am still working through the waves it left in my life. To everyone else, it seems as if my life never stopped being what it always was. No interuptions, a temporary upheaval already resolved with the loss of the baby.

But in reality, my life has completely altered. I think about that little child all the time, and even though I am a lot older, 43, and have 7 living children, this one stays in my mind, haunting me with her presence.

Maybe it isn't so much a haunt as it is an echo or a whisper, but it feels like if I blow really hard she will just wisp away and never even be real. And as silly as it may sound, that is the last thing I want. I don't want to forget her, or imagine that week of discovery and loss never existed, because it did.

It changed how my body is, and it changed my spirit. My body is still dealing with the aftermath of the miscarriage. The pain that lingers from the results of hormones raging through my body doing their job releasing relaxon and whatever else, my body is still in the process of undoing the 7 weeks of preparation. So it hurts to exercise and walk, and that stinks for me since I teach 4 or more exercise classes in a week, which means I just deal.

Emotionally and spiritually, I keep wondering why when my kids are spread from 21 to 8 did this happen now, so far away from when I had everyone else, and made me reevaluate what is important, and I am still trying to work through that, because suddenly things that had immense meaning and was high on my priority list now don't seem so almighty.

So while to the rest of the world it looks like everything is status quo on the outside, inside I have reminders, echos of a memory, wonders of what I have lost and what I am now to become, and hopes that I will figure out those questions and regain a whole body once again are something I am ready to have worked through.

So while nothing but book reviews have been up on my blog lately, these things have been part of me constantly and I have been wanting to say something about it, and finally the words have demanded it in spite of my trying to ignore it all . . . and well a lot of everything else.

I am getting better, but emotions are running a bit higher than normal this week. It's been two months now, but this weekend also marks two years since my dad died, so everything is more sensitive. But I am starting to feel like reemerging again, which is a lot more than what I my desire was up until a couple weeks ago.